Calming Influence continued the golden period for Darley stallion King's Best with victory in the Listed King Charles II Stakes.
Now unbeaten in two starts, he was always travelling smoothly in the seven-furlong contest and prevailed by a head from Stimulation, with Diktat colt, Red Alert Day, close up in third. The form looks strong as the runner-up was not beaten far in the 2000 Guineas and the first three home were nine-lengths clear of the rest of the field.
Bred by Mrs Helen Lyons, he is a half-brother to Canadian G2 winner Steel Light and from the family of Darley resident, Refuse To Bend; whose first crop are two-year-olds this season, including impressive Warwick scorer, To The Point.
King’s Best was responsible for a quick-fire double when his son, Ancien Regime won the following Heritage Handicap at Newmarket. Always a well-contested race, it has been won in recent years by future Group winners Resplendent Glory and Just James and although Ancien Regime has a little way to go to reach that standard, he is certainly one to note.
